Randy Wolf

Randy Wolf said an offer from the Dodgers might have given him pause. But the offer never came, not even in the form of a proposal for arbitration. So on Wednesday, Wolf agreed to the terms of a three-year, $29.75-million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers that includes an option for a fourth year. "I have sentimental ties to L.A., obviously," said Wolf, who grew up in the San Fernando Valley and took a hometown discount to pitch for the Dodgers in 2007. "It made the decision a lot easier because the Dodgers weren't involved."

The Baltimore Orioles placed left-handed pitcher Randy Wolf on the 60-day disabled list Wednesday with a torn ligament in his left elbow. Manager Buck Showalter said that Wolf, who was 2-0 with a 5.28 earned-run average in five games with the Orioles since signing as a free agent on Aug. 31, felt discomfort in his elbow during the fifth inning of his start Saturday in Boston. Baltimore purchased Bill Hall's contract from Triple-A Norfolk. The 32-year-old Hall, who plays both infield and outfield, will be used to help out in the outfield while Lew Ford recovers from a groin injury.

The Dodgers will head into a crucial three-game series in San Francisco this week without their best pitcher, as Manager Joe Torre said that left-hander Randy Wolf won't make his scheduled start against the Giants on Friday because of irritation in his left elbow. Wolf returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday night and received a cortisone injection from team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache . Torre said he was hopeful that Wolf would only miss one start and went as far to make light of the situation, pointing out how Giants ace Tim Lincecum is also expected to be sidelined for the series because of back problems.

MILWAUKEE — Aaron Harang made history in his previous outing, and the Dodgers pitcher and his teammates on Thursday made sure they avoided a different kind of milestone. The Dodgers were in danger of losing their third consecutive game and being swept in a series by Milwaukee for the first time since the Brewers joined the National League in 1998. But the Dodgers avoided that fate with a 4-3 win to salvage one game at Miller Park. The victory was highlighted by the hitting of Matt Kemp, who had a solo home run, and Andre Ethier.

Randy Wolf is 33 years old. He is in his 11th major-league season. But he has never pitched in the playoffs. "It's definitely a huge, gaping hole," Wolf said. Tonight, the left-hander will take the mound at Coors Field in what is arguably his most important start of the season, as he faces the team closest to the Dodgers in the standings. Wolf, who is 3-0 with a 1.99 earned-run average over his last three starts, said he doesn't expect to be any more nervous than usual.

Dodgers starting pitcher Randy Wolf is 3-3 this season with a 3.61 earned-run average, but there's another notable statistic: He has 11 no-decisions in 17 starts. Wolf said that's probably his career high at this point in a season -- "I don't think I've had more than 12 in a season, maybe 13" -- and he acknowledged that it briefly left him a bit frustrated. "As a starting pitcher you can have like a 6.

Randy Wolf had what he described as a pain-free bullpen this morning. "I let it go today in the bullpen," Wolf said. Wolf returned to Los Angeles from Arizona on Tuesday night after hyper-extending his elbow in a side session. He missed his scheduled start Friday because of the problem. "The only pitch that I didn't feel good throwing last time was my curveball," Wolf said. "So the first curveball I threw today, I was like, 'All right.' " The Dodgers still don't have a timetable for Clayton Kershaw's return, but the 21-year-old continued to report improvement on his separated non-throwing shoulder.

Randy Wolf won't be the first former Pepperdine pitcher to start the opening game of a major league playoff series. . . . In 1986, Cy Young Award winner Mike Scott outdueled Dwight Gooden in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, helping the Houston Astros defeat the New York Mets, 1-0, in the Astrodome. . . . Scott also won Game 4 and was named MVP of the series even though the Astros lost in six games. . . . Matt Holliday of the St. Louis Cardinals is the Manny Ramirez of 2009, the midseason pickup of the year.

The decision by the Dodgers not to offer arbitration to pitcher Randy Wolf or any of their other free agents Tuesday should not be viewed as a sign that their uncertain ownership situation is affecting them financially, General Manager Ned Colletti said. "Our decision was made strictly from a baseball perspective," Colletti said. The Dodgers' most reliable starter last season, Wolf was among seven ranked free agents who played for them last season, the others being second baseman Orlando Hudson, infielder Ronnie Belliard, and pitchers Vicente Padilla, Jon Garland, Guillermo Mota and Will Ohman.

Randy Wolf might have been able to do more for El Camino Real High in his four years as a starter. Walk on water, perhaps. Ridiculous? Yes. But it's easy to slip into hyperbole when discussing Wolf. Wolf, a senior left-hander and the clear choice as The Times' 1994 Valley player of the year, was 12-3 with a 1.19 earned-run average, including 3-0 in the playoffs, this season. He also batted .443 with six home runs. In the two seasons Coach Mike Maio used Wolf as a pitcher, he was 23-4 with a 1.

MILWAUKEE — The Dee Gordon effect was evident in the eighth inning Wednesday night, as Milwaukee Brewers reliever Francisco Rodriguez could attest. With the score tied and Gordon having just stolen second base, Rodriguez spun three times and threw behind Gordon to second baseman Rickie Weeks, just to keep the speedy Gordon — the potential go-ahead run — closer to the bag. Milwaukee defeated the Dodgers, 3-2, in 10 innings, but the moment reaffirmed how Gordon's blazing speed can rattle opposing teams, and why it's crucial to the Dodgers' hopes this season that Gordon, their leadoff batter, get on base.

At a time of teacher layoffs, budget cuts and constant uncertainty in the Los Angeles Unified School District, four members of the National League Central Division champion Milwaukee Brewers are creating excitement and pride at their old City Section high schools. And maybe providing something resembling a local rooting interest in the Major League Baseball playoffs. Outfielder Ryan Braun and pitcher Kameron Loe played for Granada Hills High. Pitchers Randy Wolf and Marco Estrada played for Woodland Hills El Camino Real and Sylmar.

You pitch for the Dodgers and you want to win a game? Easy. Don't give up any runs. Hiroki Kuroda has figured out that much. Backed by a two-run home run by Matt Kemp and a run-scoring double by Jerry Sands, Kuroda pitched 72/3 innings Tuesday night to lift the Dodgers to a 3-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that ended their losing streak at three games. "The team is a little down right now," Kuroda said. "Somebody has to change something. The rotatino has been pitching well.

The absence of big-name players on the roster would seem to indicate otherwise, but the Dodgers' opening-day payroll was higher this year than it was in 2009, when the team made its last playoff appearance. Counting the five players who are on the disabled list, the Dodgers will pay the players on their opening-day roster more than $95 million, according to salary figures filed with the union. They are on the hook for an additional $15 million-plus in salary deferments from previous seasons.

Who knows how long the heart of the Dodgers' lineup will remain intact after Manny Ramirez , Casey Blake and some other Dodgers reportedly were put on waivers Wednesday. But for one night, at least, the core group again showed the offensive form that was supposed to help the Dodgers repeat as division winners. Ramirez, Andre Ethier , Matt Kemp and James Loney all contributed at least one run batted in, and Blake went two for five and scored a run, as the Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-4, to take the first two games of their three-game series.

Nick Green , called up Tuesday when veteran Rafael Furcal went on the 15-day disabled list, likely not only will replace Furcal at shortstop on occasion but play other positions as he's been doing in the minor leagues, Dodgers Manager Joe Torre said. "Right now my plan is still [ Jamey ] Carroll at shortstop" in place of Furcal, Torre said. Green, who had been playing at triple-A Albuquerque, is "a little more of a utility guy" who also can be used at second and third base, Torre said.

High on a hill, Pepperdine overlooks the beaches Randy Wolf rarely visits and the Pacific Ocean he rarely notices. Growing up in West Hills, Wolf often found himself at Pepperdine with his father, but the only place on that big hill he longed to be was atop a little mound. "From the time I was 9 or 10, a Pepperdine baseball game was one of my favorite places," he said. Now that mound is Wolf's.

Tuesday through Thursday: Brewers at Dodger Stadium Friday through Sunday: Rockies at Dodger Stadium Randy Wolf is not scheduled to pitch when the Milwaukee Brewers visit Dodger Stadium this week, but one month into the season is not too soon to check the returns on the Dodgers' financial preference for Vicente Padilla over Wolf, who was their most dependable pitcher last year. Padilla, unenthusiastically selected by Manager Joe Torre as the Dodgers' opening-day starter, was 1-1 with a 7.06 earned-run average in four starts, then went on the disabled list.